Maisie Erskine (20 Jul 1923 - 12 Jan 2018)

Eulogy by Ross Erskine
The last few years weren't great for Grandma battling with dementia, so I want to take a few minutes to remind us of what a talented, intelligent, kind loving person she really was.
Born in 1923 in Buckhaven, Fife, the middle child with an elder brother and younger sister.
She was well educated, in particular English and Grammar and was trained in typing and shorthand.
She enjoyed Sport, watching golf snooker, amongst others but tennis was her greatest love, she used to play when she was younger representing a local team and was a junior champion.
We were all grateful when Andy Murray came along and she had a British champion to support. If she was watching him on television when you phoned it would likely be a short conversation!
She was a very good baker making her own biscuits and cakes.
She would knit us all jumpers so we all looked the same, we pretended to like that.
She played the organ and used to play the piano.
She absolutely loved music and dancing, ballroom dancing at functions and she joined a Scottish country dancing club, after she retired.
In fact it seemed she became busier in retirement than when she worked, with SAGA lunches, walks, bus tours, regularly went swimming, a keep fit club and started doing tapestries. She completed nearly a 100 different pieces some very intricate and time consuming.
A very keen gardener knowing both the common name and Latin name for most bushes and flowers. In early spring all the south facing window ledges would be full of seed boxes which she would later plant in the garden to provide a wealth of colour throughout the year.
An avid book reader, enjoyed puzzles and used her command of the English language to regularly complete the Daily Telegraph crossword.
She also joined an indoor bowls club and went with three friends every week, she once told my dad a story that she didn't like to Bowl first, she preferred to wait and watch others to confirm which side the bias was on and which way it would turn, but one day she had to go first and she got it wrong, within seconds her Bowl had taken a 90 degree turn and was traversing across every else's lanes, she said I didn't know what to do so I shouted FORE!
In her adult life she moved house many times living on the east and west coasts of Scotland, South Wales, and finally moving to Mansfield, wherever she went, whatever club group she joined she made lifelong friends.
She was very generous, she supported many charities as well as helping myself, my brothers and sister with financial help in our adult lives.
Finally the family have asked me to say a few thank you’s, to Margaret, Wendy, her neighbours, the staff at Magnolia House and all of you for coming today.
She had many talents but her greatest one was caring for her family and friends.

A great inspiration and loving Grandma. We will miss you.

So sadly missed but never forgotten, you will always be in my heart. A fantastic Grandma and I will always appreciate everything you did for me. Love you always xxxx

Thanks for everything Mum. xxx